The Ghosts of Napier Prison: New Zealand’s Most Haunted Lockup



Perched on Bluff Hill overlooking the port city of Napier in New Zealand’s North Island, Napier Prison holds more than just the history of hardened criminals and punishment it’s also believed to be home to restless spirits that continue to haunt its decaying halls. As New Zealand’s oldest prison, dating back to 1862, the site has earned a spine-chilling reputation as one of the most haunted locations in the country.

Operating for more than a century before finally closing in 1993, the prison now serves as a historical site and paranormal hotspot. Its eerie corridors, underground cells, and hanging yard have been the setting for ghost sightings, unexplained phenomena, and deeply unsettling energy drawing both history buffs and ghost hunters from around the world.

A Dark History Beneath the Surface

Napier Prison was built to serve as a prison, orphanage, and psychiatric unit, a rare and grim combination that has left a deep psychic imprint on the location. It housed men, women, and children from petty thieves to dangerous murderers many of whom lived out their final days in grim conditions. Inmates were subjected to strict discipline, solitary confinement, and hard labor. Several executions took place on site, and mass graves are rumored to lie beneath the grounds, especially in areas damaged by the devastating 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake.

The Execution Yard and Phantom Nooses

One of the most active haunted locations within the prison is the execution yard, where prisoners were hanged. Visitors often report sensations of choking, dizziness, or shortness of breath while standing there as if momentarily reliving the final moments of the condemned.

Several guests and staff claim to have seen phantom ropes hanging from the gallows, only to disappear upon closer inspection. Others have reported faint cries or pleas for mercy echoing through the stone walls, long after the prison fell silent.

The Ghost of Roland Edwards

One of the most infamous spirits said to haunt Napier Prison is Roland Edwards, a convicted murderer who was executed in 1907 for killing a young man named Frederick Stade. Edwards, by many accounts, was deeply disturbed. His ghost is said to roam the area near his former cell, with witnesses describing a dark, male presence accompanied by sudden drops in temperature and overwhelming feelings of dread. Paranormal investigators have recorded unexplained voices and knocks near his cell, and some claim to have captured eerie EVP responses when asking questions related to his crime.

The Cursed Cell Block

Several visitors and staff have described a particularly active cell block where lights flicker, doors slam on their own, and ghostly figures have been spotted peering out from behind iron bars. Tour guides tell tales of guests being scratched, pushed, or experiencing sudden nausea in this section even skeptics have left visibly shaken. It is believed that the residual energy of despair, mental illness, and isolation has left a powerful imprint on this part of the prison.

Child Spirits and the Orphanage Legacy

Perhaps the most heartbreaking hauntings are tied to the prison’s former use as an orphanage. Visitors have reported hearing the faint sound of children laughing, crying, or running through empty corridors. Toys left as trigger objects are sometimes found moved or rearranged, even when no one has entered the area.

One frequently reported sighting is of a young boy in period clothing who appears to be looking for someone — perhaps a lost parent or sibling before disappearing into thin air.

Earthquake Shadows

The 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake left part of the prison in ruins, killing prisoners, guards, and staff. Some of the most intense paranormal activity is reported near the collapsed areas and the makeshift graves. Cold spots, shadow figures, and disembodied voices are commonly encountered. Some paranormal researchers believe this tragic event triggered a surge in spiritual activity, leaving behind emotional echoes and residual hauntings.
Ghost Tours and Modern Encounters

Today, Napier Prison is open to the public, offering daytime history tours and nighttime ghost walks that invite the brave to experience its haunted legacy firsthand. The prison has been featured in numerous paranormal documentaries and ghost hunting shows, with footage capturing unexplainable movements, strange lights, and audio anomalies. Visitors often leave with stories of their own from being touched or followed by unseen presences to capturing eerie photographs that reveal more than expected.

Final Thoughts

Napier Prison is more than a heritage site — it’s a repository of human suffering, resilience, and mystery. For some, it’s a place to learn about New Zealand’s past; for others, it’s a supernatural frontier where the veil between worlds grows thin. Whether you're a historian, a skeptic, or a ghost hunter, one thing is certain: the spirits of Napier Prison are not done telling their stories.